Final answer:
True, each living species, including humans, has a characteristic number of chromosomes in its somatic cells, with humans having 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs. Reproductive cells, or gametes, have half the number of the somatic cells, which for humans is 23 chromosomes. The number of chromosomes varies significantly between species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chromosome Number in Eukaryotic Organisms
True, each species of living organisms has a specific number of chromosomes in its body cells known as somatic cells. For instance, human chromosomes are present in a diploid number, with body cells containing 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs. These include 22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. The notion that somatic cells have the same number of chromosomes as reproductive cells is false; reproductive cells, or gametes, have half the number of chromosomes, making them haploid. Hence, human gametes have 23 chromosomes, half of the diploid number of somatic cells. This characteristic number of chromosomes is essential for the correct distribution of genetic information during cell division and sexual reproduction.
In other species, the number of chromosomes can vary widely, for example, the ant Myrmecia pilosula has only 2 chromosomes, while the adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum reticulatum has up to 1260 chromosomes. This variation in chromosome number is crucial for the diversity of genetic information and traits within and across different species.